Massachusetts General Laws ch. 266 sec. 100 – Libraries; mutilation or destruction of materials or property
Section 100. Whoever willfully, maliciously or wantonly writes upon, injures, defaces, tears, cuts, mutilates or destroys any library material or property, shall make restitution in full replacement value of the library materials or property, and, in addition, shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two years or by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or both.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 266 sec. 100
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
A law enforcement officer may arrest without warrant any person he has probable cause to believe has violated the provisions of section ninety-nine A and this section. The statement of an employee or agent of the library, eighteen years of age or older, that a person has violated the provisions of said section ninety-nine A and this section shall constitute probable cause for arrest by a law enforcement officer authorized to make an arrest in such jurisdiction. The activation of an electronic anti-theft device shall constitute probable cause for believing that a person has violated the provisions of this section.
A library shall prepare posters to be displayed therein in a conspicuous place. Said posters shall contain a summary and explanation of said section ninety-nine A and this section.